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Clara was born in North Oxford, Massachusetts.
Clara was the best Christmas present her parents could ask for. -
Clara started school when she was three years old in 1824*
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In 1833 Clara's brother David fell off the barn roof. David got very sick and Clara took care of him.* She changed his bandages, fed him, gave him medicine and kept him company. She didn't realize that was her fist time working as a nurse.
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Clara started teaching in 1839. She taught students of all ages. Clara's shyness went away when she was teaching.
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Clara became one of the first women to work for the government. Clara began working for the U.S. Patent Office in 1854.*
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The Civil War began between North & South. Clara began saving money and supplies to take care of the soldiers. Clara got shot in the arm and the bullet killed the soldier.
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Clara wrote to President Lincoln requesting permission to help locate missing soldiers. On March 11, 1865 she opened her office and for the next four years helped locate 22,000 men.
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In 1869 after lecturing for 2 years about her time on the battlefield Clara went to Europe. During this time the Franco-Prussian War began. The International Red Cross asked Clara to stay and help. She returned to the U.S. in 1873.
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Clara came home and worked on starting a Red Cross organization with support from President Garfield. On May 21, 1881 The American Red Cross was formed. Clara worked for many years providing help to those in need. She left in May of 1904.
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Clara went home to Glen Echo, Maryland. She wrote a book about her life. She died on Apil1,1912.
